A popular recreation ground could get a new car park so people don’t have to park on the road – but only if the council is convinced the extension is necessary.

Plans say the new car park at Great Hollands Recreation Ground is needed because the current one often fills up – especially on weekends. It would provide 49 new spaces for users of the park’s football pitches, bowling green, tennis courts, playground and playing fields.

But Bracknell Forest Council planning officers say they need proof the development is needed as it is on countryside land.

A letter to the council from consultants Inception Planning said: “In recent years, the use of the recreation ground has been such that at times demand for parking has outstripped supply. In particular this has occurred at weekends resulting in cars parking on South Road.”

The owner of the recreation ground, Bracknell Town Council, was told before submitting the application that it would need to show that there was a need for the new car park. That’s because it would be built on land classified as “local green space.”

It also needs to submit additional landscape and tree management plans to offset the impact on the countryside.

Inception Planning says the construction would involve planting new trees, and the surface will be compacted gravel “to soften the visual impact.”

The application is awaiting consideration by Bracknell Forest Council’s planning officers.